Thomsen: Passing vehicle likely caused fire north of Ukiah

A cigarette butt and debris from a blown tire were found near the origin of a vegetation fire that started along Highway 101 north of Ukiah Wednesday afternoon and spread to a nearby home, according to Division Chief Kirk Thomsen of the combined city of Ukiah Fire Department and Ukiah Valley Fire District.

"We don't believe it was arson," Thomsen said, adding that the most likely cause was a passing vehicle causing a spark from an exhaust pipe, a blown tire or a tossed cigarette. "It could have been anything."

The fire started around 2 p.m. west of the highway near the Parducci vineyards and burned three acres of grass and trees, according to Thomsen. Firefighters had the flames out and were dousing hot spots when an ember from the fire ignited in the attic of a house across a gravel driveway from the field.

"It must have been a little ember, because there was no vegetation near the home that would have burned there," Thomsen said.

Firefighters were still in their wildland gear at the scene when the spark flew into a vent and ignited flames in the attic, he said. Firefighters had to change into protective gear for structure fires. The family renting the home was living elsewhere while awaiting repairs for recent flooding, and no one was injured.

The blaze burned the home's garage, but firefighters doused it before it could spread. Fire responders were at the scene until about 7 p.m. mopping up hot spots, and Thomsen said he sent crews back after dark to double-check for embers.

Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@ukiahdj.com,, on Twitter @TiffanyRevelle or at 468-3523.